March marks the beginning of Women’s History Month, something Rock Valley College is happy to celebrate. Rock Valley hosts a wide variety of events and speakers throughout the month. Events are located all around campus, usually in the Student Center or ERC. Education isn’t the only focus as free lunches are given to those who attend.
As a kickoff, Maureen Lowry-Fritz hosted a panel discussing feminism throughout the changes in society. Dr. Lowry-Fritz started the discussion with a brief history lesson. She explained the four waves of feminism and the development of the term throughout societal changes. The panel consisted of Rock Valley staff members talking about their experience with feminism, and exploring the differences in their perception of it. Sarah Etlinger, Julie Hernandez, Beth Ingle, Doreen Pierce, and Lien Vu shared stories of their upbringing and expressed how that affected their ideas of being a woman.
Professor Etlinger shared how she grew up with the support of her family, pushing her to be a strong independent woman. On the other hand, Lien Vu shared her struggles with a traditional family, and how she first found feminism in college.
Throughout the discussion, questions were bounced back and forth between all of the speakers. Controversial questions such as, “What can elected leaders do to help women achieve equality in America?” In response, Dr. Fisher replied by saying, “I believe that they should just lead by example.” This was one of the many questions that were posed throughout the panel discussion. The overall theme was to compare and contrast the meaning of feminism, share personal stories, and raise awareness for the topic.
Dr. Lowry-Fritz is a leader in the feminist movement on campus. Lowry-Fritz says, “My love of women, and women-related issues, and my love of education is what brought me here today.” She’s proud to support Rock Valley’s usage of PAIC, Promoting an Inclusive Community.
Erin Fisher finds that “Rock Valley is leaps and bounds ahead in their inclusivity and accessibility.” Those who were asked if they were happy with the work Rock Valley has done for inclusivity, all reported that Rock Valley took their job seriously. Fisher stated, “I truly believe that RVC means what they’re doing and that inclusion isn’t just a buzzword that we use.”
Support the college’s work on diversity and stop in for an event. Events are held throughout the school year. Be on the lookout for posters and announcements promoting up-and-coming speakers, workshops, or other events.
